Blind Attraction Page 3

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re not talking about crème brûlée or chocolate cake?” she whispered, tilting her head back until her forehead brushed against the smooth line of his jaw. He must have shaved just before he picked her up for his skin was so soft. This close, his breath fanned across her face and his heady essence filled her senses.

  “Because I’m not,” he grinned, tracing the indent of her waist with his fingers. Her skin was on fire, burning all the way to her soul and she wanted to feel his fingers on her bare skin.

  “Mr. Templeton?” the hostess asked, interrupting the moment.

  “Yes,” James answered, his voice a bit husky. He held onto her as they followed the hostess to a quiet table near the back. Victoria automatically helped James get situated, making sure he knew where everything was. Then she took the seat right next to him so that her thigh was brushing up against his.

  “Wow,” Victoria said, looking around at her surroundings. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn she was in some out of the way European café. The colors were earthy and the art on the wall varied, from modern art to pastoral scenes. Soft, classical music played in the background, just enough to add to the ambiance without being overbearing. “This is really nice.”

  “I like it,” he rasped, his velvet voice a little rough.

  “Do you need a menu?” a waitress asked, discretely checking James out. She looked at Victoria and gave her a look of approval making Victoria grin like a fool.

  “Just one,” James murmured.

  Victoria thanked the waitress for the menu and silently read through the selections. Her mouth was watering before she finished reading through the first five options. She was fairly certain she was drooling and discreetly wiped the non-existent moisture away as she glanced up at the waitress with a sheepish smile.

  “Have you decided what you want?” James asked.

  “What do you recommend?” Victoria asked him, watching his face. She allowed herself the luxury of just taking in his masculine beauty, especially his delectable lips and gorgeous green eyes. She wanted to draw her fingers through his thick, black hair, over his cheek bones. Temptation changed everything. Of course, wanting him didn’t mean having him.

  He cleared his throat before he turned his face to the waitress, looking past her as he ordered, “Um, we’ll have the Chocolate Orgasm.”

  Victoria bit her lips until the waitress left and then she laughed, “What is that?”

  “Double fudge brownies with chocolate ice cream, rich melted fudge, real whipped cream,” he told her, lowering his voice to a seductive rumble. “And about a thousand calories a bite.”

  She groaned in anticipation, “It sounds absolutely sinful.”

  “It is,” he assured her. “If you love chocolate, you’ll love it.”

  “I love chocolate,” she admitted. First dates were always nerve-racking, but it felt right being here with James. Almost destined. After a few minutes of small talk, her curiosity got the better of her. Leaning closer to him, breathing in his scent, she asked, “What’s it like to suddenly lose your sight?”

  “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully, unhurriedly considering his answer. “At first it was terrifying; I didn’t realize how much I relied on my sight until it was gone. I also wasn’t prepared for how it would impact my mobility. I was used to hopping in my car and taking off for a weekend of skiing in the mountains or getting together with my friends. Now, it takes a little more coordination to get things done, and some adaptation, but I’m glad it was my sight and not my life.”

  “Oh, absolutely,” Victoria agreed, tilting her head to the side and watching his expressive lips, the calmness with which he spoke. “How long ago did this happen?”

  “Almost three months,” he said matter-of-factly, taking a shaky sip from his water.

  “Wow,” she said with awe. “I am so impressed with how you’re dealing.”

  “It’s amazing how quickly the body adapts.” His hand was still faintly trembling as he set his glass back down on the table. He grimaced as if embarrassed by his perceived weakness. He wasn’t weak, not at all.

  Amazed by this man’s strength, she reached out and took his hand in hers. Turning his hand over, he entwined their fingers in what seemed to be a perfectly natural act. Leaning closer, she asked, “Is it true what they say about your other senses compensating for the loss of one?”

  The corners of his lips turned upwards in a sexy grin. “Very much so.”

  “Like how?” she asked, stroking her thumb along the ridge of his hand, enjoying the feel of his skin. The tremor in his hand had stilled but she continued holding it, not wanting to let go, wanting to bask in his strength. She was sure that if something like that had happened to her she’d be railing at the world. Or shutting herself off and becoming a recluse. Or both.

  “Like the feel of your fingers caressing me is a hundred times more erotic than when I was sighted,” he told her softly. Leaning closer to her, he pressed his nose right behind her ear as he whispered, “And your scent is like a drug; I could spend all day and night just breathing you in.”

  Color flared up on her cheeks as his words whispered through her head, as the heat from his body embraced her. For the briefest moment, she thought she felt his lips against her neck but then he was sitting straight and she felt the loss throughout her body. Clearing her throat, she asked, “And taste?”

  “I’m eager to find out,” he said seductively, leaving little to Victoria’s imagination as to what, exactly, he was referring to.

  “I’m glad you came into the store this morning,” Victoria murmured.

  In a darkly sensuous voice, he whispered, “So am I.”

  Victoria was well aware of the dull flush along his cheek bones, the deepening of his breath, his increased pulse rate; they all matched her own. Staring at his face, she moistened her lips, thankful that he couldn’t see her, couldn’t see the effect he was having on her. She wasn’t used to feeling this hot and bothered by anyone, let alone an almost perfect stranger.

  Her heart raced in her chest as she watched him, his full lower lip and strong jaw, the throbbing of his pulse along his throat. Despite knowing him less than twelve hours, she was already a little bit in love with him.

  *****

  James smiled slightly at her discomfort with his not-quite-appropriate teasing; little did she know that coming into her store was all part of his plan to seduce her. Her image had gotten him through the worst days following the accident. But then, whatever it was that she was doing to his hand was affecting his entire body. That slow, rhythmic caress had him imagining slow, rhythmic sex; of twining his fingers in her blond hair and burying his cock in her blond core, of claiming her and making her his forever.

  She had to be conscious of it, this instinctual awareness that she was his.

  James was very aware of the heat emanating from her body, the slightly musky scent of her arousal. Without his sight, he was able to better appreciate her pure, feminine smell – and it was intoxicating. His own body responded eagerly and it was all he could do to try to cool his ardor. Even talking about the accident did little to lessen his lust.

  He hadn’t been quite as calm as he usually was when discussing the accident and it had embarrassed him to be shaking like a little dog in front of the girl he most wanted to impress. But then she touched him and it was as if he was able to accept whatever the future held. Before, he always assumed he’d be getting his sight back, but sitting here, talking to this girl, he was starting to realize that it might not be coming back. But if she was by his side it would be okay.

  Softly, she asked, “Did you have any other injuries?”

  It took James a moment to follow what she was saying, that she was still talking about the car accident and not being sexually frustrated. Swallowing down his urges, he shook his head, “Nope; just bumped my head and got knocked out for a couple of days.”

  The quick intake of breath signifying her shock appealed to h
im; she cared more than a new acquaintance should. She definitely felt the connection. He was the one who was shocked when her slender hand cupped his jaw, her thumb caressed his cheek, “Thank God it wasn’t worse; I don’t think I would want to live in a world where you’re not.”

  The air around him stilled at her would-be-outlandish statement if it weren’t for the fact that it was all-too-true. Now he knew why he was drawn to that little store; it was because of her. She truly was his soul mate, something he had never given much credence to before his coma. Covering her hand with his, he turned his head and pressed a kiss into her palm. “Victoria….”

  “Here we go,” the waitress’s bright voice came between them. Victoria dropped her hand and he wished her palm was still pressed against his cheek. He heard the waitress set the plate down, knowing it was overfilled with chocolate. “I hope you enjoy it!”

  “Thank you,” Victoria murmured, her voice breathless.

  He hoped he didn’t look as bewildered as he felt; and there was no doubt that she probably looked stunned as well. For a moment, it was just the two of them and they were completely connected. The words Soul Mate drifted through his mind, like an angel’s breath.

  “Shall we?” he asked as he fell back down to earth. What the hell just happened? Patting the table for his fork, he was a little taken aback when Victoria placed it in his hand. Despite what he said about adjusting, at this moment he wanted to impress her, not have her treat him like a baby. But then he heard her moan in approval and the sound sent blood rushing from every extremity in his body to his cock. The loss of blood left him slightly dizzy. “Do you like it?”

  “Oh, it’s heaven,” she groaned, lifting up a forkful and placing it before his lips. “You have to try it.”

  Conflicted, he opened his mouth and let her feed him. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to enjoy the pleasure of eating the dessert and not dwelling on what she must think of him. He’d prove he wasn’t some invalid. With a half-smile, he spoke softly, beguilingly, “Mmmmm; do I get to return the favor?”

  “Please,” she murmured softly,

  Placing his hands on the table, he found the dessert. With an unsteady hand, he dipped his fork into the chocolate concoction and scooped some up, hoping it wasn’t too much. The next part was even more daunting: finding her mouth and not spilling any on her. Slowly, her hands wrapped around his and she guided him to her mouth. What could have been irritating was something erotic and entirely too intimate. He held his breath, hoping to regain some semblance of control.

  As her lips wrapped around the chocolate, Victoria released his hands. Chewing and then swallowing, she leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”

  Her lips were soft and too quick in departing and they whet his appetite for far more. Listening to her groan of pleasure as she ate, he knew that she was an inherently sensual girl and sex with her was going to be something amazing. As they continued to feed one another, he found himself hoping that he could talk her into coming home with him. Her hands over his were so soft, so feminine, and he wanted her to touch him in other places. He wanted to listen to her low, velvety voice whisper her desires.

  All too soon the dessert was gone and he heard the chair groan as she leaned back and sighed. “I am awfully tempted to pick up the plate and lick the remains but I will refrain from doing so.”

  He choked back a laugh at that unexpected statement; most of the girls he dated would be horrified to admit to liking chocolate let alone willing to lick a plate clean. The image of her tongue darting out and licking chocolate from his naked stomach flashed into his head and he had to shift to keep his blood flowing to his engorged penis. Clearing his throat, he said, “I wouldn’t mind if you did.”

  She laughed, a low, sensual sound that punched him in the gut and made his erection lurch. With a sigh, she murmured, “That was delicious; thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he replied, still feeling a bit gobsmacked. What was it about her that drew him in? Sure, she was natural, and she had a way of making what could be an uncomfortable situation into something bordering on indecent, but still…. Maybe his fantasies made him think he knew her better than he actually did, maybe she wasn’t real.

  When he held her in his arm she had been slender but the feel of her body didn’t quite match the image that was in his head; probably because he only saw her for a few minutes nearly three months before. Still, she had felt good in his arms; really good. Did he have the right woman?

  “What are you thinking about?” Victoria asked, nudging him with her leg and pulling him out of his contemplations. “You look so serious; you’re not upset, are you?”

  “No,” he shook his head. How could he possibly tell her that she was wreaking havoc with his equilibrium, and he kind of liked it? That he wasn’t sure if it was her, or everything that had happened in the last three months? “What color is your hair?”

  She sputtered and started to cough and he worried that he killed her with the simple question. He reached out to pat her back and felt the glass just before he knocked it over. Her hands were over his, mopping up the mess before the water dripped off the table. “Damn it.”

  “It’s all right,” she murmured, slipping her hand around his after the mess was cleaned up. Holding his hand against her heart, she softly said, “Blond; my hair is blond.”

  He sighed in relief; it was her. Knowing he had the right girl and that she was even more perfect than he could ever imagine, he allowed a small smile curve his lips. “I didn’t mean to surprise you with my question.”

  To his dismay, she let his hand go and he could hear her straightening things from his accidentally spilling the water. He would have rather been able to hold her hand a little longer. “You didn’t; I simply tried to swallow and talk at the same time and that doesn’t really work too well. It was my own fault.”

  He crinkled his nose and hesitantly asked, “How big of a mess did I make?”

  Her low, sensual chuckle sucker punched him again, “Not a very big mess; the table had already been pretty much cleared. Besides, it’s only water.”

  He cringed, “Did I get any on you?”

  “Maybe a drop or two,” she admitted and he feared it was a lot worse than she let on. “But I’ll live and I won’t melt.”

  “So you don’t have green skin and fly around on a broom stick, cackling, ‘I’ll get you, my pretty?’”

  “I prefer my magic carpet,” she teased. “Being able to stretch out is much better for long distance travel.”

  He threw his head back and laughed, appreciating her humor; so few women of his acquaintance were able to laugh at themselves. Hell, if he had spilled even a drop of water on any of his former dates they would have been screeching at the top of their lungs, demanding to be taken home immediately.

  They talked about their favorite movies for a few minutes before falling into a comfortable silence. For the first time in his life he felt peaceful just sitting next to an attractive woman and talking about nothing. The recent memory of her asking him what it was like not to have eyeballs popped into his head and he smiled; Victoria was unlike anyone he had ever met and he was looking forward to getting to know here even better.

  “You’re smiling,” she said, a smile in her own voice. “Why are you smiling?”

  “Merely digesting the dessert,” he said on a sigh, not wanting to embarrass her by bringing up her earlier mistake and not wanting the night to end. “I swear, it gets better every time I eat it. Or maybe it’s just the company I’m with.

  She laughed softly, the sound so beautiful to James’s ears. “I’m pretty sure it’s quite spectacular on its own and without me you could have eaten the whole thing by yourself.”

  “Ah, now that just wouldn’t be nearly as much fun,” he grinned, reaching out his hand for her before realizing he was going to look like an idiot if he grabbed her shoulder or something a little lower. As he was about to let his hand drop, her fingers curled around
his and brought them up to her lips.

  “This has been fun,” she agreed, holding his hand next to her chin. Pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles, she laughed and he could feel her smile against his skin. “Had I known about this place I’d probably weigh three hundred pounds by now.”

  As her breath warmed his skin, he was holding his own breath. Did she have absolutely no clue as to the chaos she was causing in his body? All of his senses were vibrating: the smell of her silken skin, the feel of her soft hands and her warm breath, the sound of her melodious laughter, the taste of her sweet lips. How he wished he could see her; the blond hair framing her face, her sinful mouth; to discover the color of her eyes. “Man, I’ll have to come up with something really spectacular for our second date, then.”

  He felt her pulse leap a heartbeat before she said lightly, “We could just come back here, you know.”

  He could feel her smile against his knuckles, her lips so supple and moist. Without thinking, he leaned forward as he lowered their entwined hands, capturing her lips with his. Her slight gasp of surprise allowed him entrance and he was too keyed up to be polite. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, he could still taste the chocolate and her sweetness; the combination was exhilarating. Touching with only their mouths and hands, he did a thorough exploration: her tongue, her teeth, her lips; holding himself back so the kiss could only go so far.

  As his tongue rubbed against hers, he forgot where he was, what his name was. All he knew was the feel of her mouth against his, the smell of her, the taste of her. Her warmth. A whimper of frustration reverberated from the back of her throat; and he knew she wanted more. But when she tried to lift her arms to wrap them around his neck, he held them still in a tight grip.

  “James,” she purred.

  Hearing his name in her breathy, velvet voice nearly snapped his control. Before he completely embarrassed himself, or got them arrested, he dragged himself away from her intoxicating lips. Resting his forehead against hers, he smiled: both of them were breathing raggedly. Okay, so maybe he hadn’t been with someone for a while but that didn’t even begin to explain this combustion. He never felt this zing with any of the women he’d been with. He doubted it would be any different if he had his sight.